Plane crash news at Canada airport: A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, leaving 18 of the 80 people on board injured, officials reported. The incident occurred amid strong winds following a weekend snowstorm that left over 22 cm (8.6 inches) of snow at the airport, reports Reuters.
Three of the injured passengers, including a child, suffered critical injuries. Two were airlifted to trauma centres, while the child was transported to a children’s hospital, according to Peel Regional Paramedic Services.
The aircraft involved was a CRJ900, manufactured by Canada’s Bombardier, and operated by Delta’s subsidiary, Endeavor Air. The flight originated from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport carried 76 passengers and four crew members.
Delta confirmed the accident in a statement, noting that all 18 injured passengers were taken to area hospitals. Canadian authorities have investigated the cause of the crash, which remains undetermined.
Eyewitness accounts
Emergency responders described a chaotic scene. “The aircraft is upside down and burning,” an emergency worker reported to the air traffic control tower, according to a recording on liveatc.net. Video footage shared on social media showed a fire engine spraying water on the overturned plane lying on the snow-covered tarmac.
A passenger, John Nelson, narrated the aftermath on Facebook, stating, “We’re in Toronto. We just landed. Our plane crashed. It’s upside down. The fire department on site. Everybody, most people appear to be OK.”
Toronto Pearson Airport temporarily shut down for more than two hours following the crash before resuming departures and arrivals. The airport had been experiencing delays due to high winds and freezing temperatures.